Sports

Mitchell College Mariners Remain Unbeaten in Men's Soccer Conference Play

Mitchell College men's soccer team powered to a 4-1 victory over Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action at Alumni Field.

Behind a hat trick from senior Zachary Simmons (Coventry, Conn./Coventry/East Catholic), the Mitchell College men’s soccer team powered to a 4-1 victory over Southern Vermont College on Saturday afternoon in New England Collegiate Conference (NECC) action at Alumni Field.

Simmons scored once in the first half and added two more goals over the final 45 minutes to help the Mariners (5-6-0 overall, 3-0-0 NECC) remain unbeaten in conference play.

Junior Frank Williams (Bradford, R.I./Westerly) added a goal and an assist while classmate Taylor Surette (Cheshire, Conn./Watkinson School) chipped in with two helpers. Erik Argueta (Pico Rivera, Calif./El Rancho) tallied the lone goal for Southern Vermont (2-9-0 overall, 1-2-0 NECC).

The Mariners produced a pair of quality goals in the first half behind solid play in the midfield. Simmons notched his first of the day in the 10th minute, finding the top corner of the goal off a feed from Williams. Junior Jason Kirby (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) set the whole play up with some fancy footwork outside the 18-yard box, maintaining possession and ultimately slipping a pass to Williams that he centered to Simmons.

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The second goal came in the 39th minute off a direct kick that Surette played from the left sideline to the far post. Junior Jordan Derosier (Bristol, Conn./Bristol Eastern) leaped in the air and headed the ball to Williams in front of the goal, and the Mariners’ leading scorer headed in his team-best fifth goal of the year.

Leading 2-0 at intermission, Mitchell wasted little time increasing the margin when Simmons scored just 28 seconds into the second stanza. He took a pass from Surette and, after taking one touch, launched a shot from 25 yards out that snuck in under the crossbar.

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The Mountaineers got on the scoreboard in the 81st minute thanks to a goal from Argueta off an assist by Derek Snow (Centerville, Mass./Barnstable). The goal was the third on the season for Argueta, who fought off a defender and slid a shot into the right corner to beat goalkeeper Ramazan Sinani (Waterbury, Conn./Crosby).

Simmons completed the hat trick in the 87th minute. The Mariners were awarded a penalty kick, but SVC keeper Chris Dunham (Valley Falls, N.Y./Grace Christian School) made a diving stop to his right to deny the attempt by Surette. Simmons was there to clean up the rebound, however, and increased his season goal total to four. It also marked the first career hat trick for the Mitchell captain.

Mitchell held an 18-8 edge in shots for the contest. Sinani finished with three saves while Dunham made five.

Mitchell will next host Gordon College on Monday, October 7 at 3:30 p.m. Southern Vermont returns to action at home against Becker College on Tuesday, October 8 at 4 p.m.


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